Kite



April 16, 1957 G. BEDFORD KITE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 11, 1954 m a r we 2 6 L a ATTQRXEYS April 16, 1957 G. BEDFORD KITE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 11, 1954 INVENTOR VIZ'IIIIIIIIA 1,4

ATTORNEYS United States Patent KITE German L. Bedford, Kutztown, Pa. Application January 11, 1954, Serial No. 403,222

' 1 claim. or. 244-153 This invention relates to a kite and has as its primary object the provision of an improved kite construction which may be readily assembled from a prefabricated kit, or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision. of a kite structure designed in the form of a face of an animal, or the like, for enhanced amusement value.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a kite having a flying surface of relatively strong material, such as thin flexible sheet plastic, or the like.

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of means for assembling the structural members, including novel means for securing the frame in proper alignment with the covering, by means of an inner relationship of string members.

Still other objects reside in the combination of elements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein there are shown preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

It will be noted from the disclosure herein that in each kite the sticks or supports for the skin or cover member of the kite are so constructed and arranged as to project into the corners of the skin or covering member as to form, in conjunction with the cover, an animal ear formation. The cover is so constructed and supported that the ear elements have the appearance of standing out erect as in a live animal head. This gives an extremely novel effect and greatly enhances the attractiveness of the kite. The same efi'ect as to ears can be also obtained with other faces.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front plan view of one form of assembled kite employing features of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the construction of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Figure 2, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a perspective detailed view, partially broken away, of a constructional detail.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified form of construction.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a rear elevational view, on a reduced scale, similar to Figure 2, but showing a still further modified form of construction.

2,788,945 Patented Apr. 16, 1957 Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, there is generally indi-- cated at a kite construction which includes a covering sheet 21 preferably of plastic, which may, as best shown in Figure l, incorporate on the outer side thereof a design as, for example, the face of a wolf or other animal.

The frame of the kite 21 is comprised of a pair of intersecting and crossing frame sticks 22 and 22' which cross as at 23, and which are in turn crossed by a trans verse frame stick 24 which crosses the sticks 22 and 22 at points 25 and 25' respectively.

As best shown in Figure 3, each end of each of frame sticks 22, 22', and 24 is provided with a transverse notch 26 for the reception of strings, to be more fully described hereinafter. Each intersection, 23, 25, and 25 is secured as by means of a loop of string 27, 28, and 29 respectively, the string being knotted as at 3%) (see Fig- Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken sub- This arrangement serves to hold the frame securely in its assembled position. At points adjacent each of its ends, the corners of stick 24, are notched, as indicated at 30 in Figure 5, similar notches being provided adja'cent the ends 31 and 31 of frame sticks 22 and 22'.

A string 35 extends from one notched end portion 30, to which it is secured as by tieing, diagonally across and into the notch 26 and the end 31 of frame stick 22, and thence downwardly to engage in the notch 26 in the opposite end 32' of frame stick 22', as indicated at 36.

A portion 37 of the string then extends to the opposite or lower end 32 of frame stick 22 from which the portion 37 extends upwardly to the notch 26 in the end 31' of stick 22. A portion 39 of the string then extends downwardly to the notched portion 30a at the opposite end of frame stick 24 and is tied and secured thereto.

A second string 40 extends from any desired point, such as the notches 30' in the lower end of frame stick 22', outwardly to the slot 26' in one end of transverse frame stick 24, and upwardly to the notches 30 of the upper end 31 of frame stick 22, and transversely to the corresponding notches 36 adjacent the upper end 31 of frame stick 22, the string being looped about each of members 22 and 22', as indicated at 41 (see Figure 3).

String 40 then extends downwardly through and into the channel 26" at the opposite end of transverse frame stick 24 about notches 30a adjacent end 32 of frame stick 22, and thence back to the notches 30' where it is retied.

The covering 21 is provided with a reverted edge portion 42 which is adapted to be folded about the string 40, and secured in any desired manner as by suitable adhesive 43.

Ear portions 44 are provided on covering sheet 21, and the reverted portions 42 thereof surround the upper ends of string portions 36 and 35, and 37 and 39, which extend above the upper ends 31 and 31' of sticks 22 and 22'.

A lower muzzle portion 45 is also formed in the covering 21, and provided with similar reverted flaps 42 which extend about the lower portions of strings 3d and 39, and transverse string portion 37 adjacent the lower ends 32 and 32' of frame sticks 22 and 22.

A slightly modified form of construction is disclosed in Figure 7, wherein frame sticks 22b and 22b are crossed in a manner similar to the previously disclosed structure, but wherein the ear portions 44b are formed of rounded members, provided at their upper extremities with reverted flaps 440, which form pockets to overlie the upper extremities 31b and 31b of frame members 22h and 2211'.

arses-ts Flaps; 42 b surround string members 405, as in h nr c sly isclo m di sa ie As best shown in Figure 8, notches 26b are provided in the upper ends of 31b andi31b'.

A. further modification is disclosed, in Figures. 9' and 10, wherein the frame comprised of members 22; 22', and 24, is identical to the modification disclosed in Figures 1 and 2,. butwherein pockets are provided at the top of; each ear. portion; 44 by means of reverted portions 53, the cover in this instance heinggof a plasticv material of sufiicient tensile strength to be used without string supports.

Similar pockets are provided at the opposite ends,: oi the members 24. including reverted tabs 52, while.- the lowerv ends of members 22. and. 22? are covered bypockets 53 and 53 similarly formed. with reverted tab members. 7

As shown in Figure 10,,the tabs may: be secured as by suitable adhesive 55 directly: to the inner sur -face. of covering sheet 21, rather than comprising reverted integral parts thereof.

The remainder of the kite includes a bridle formed of strings 6i) and 60' extending from the notches 3:0 at the upper ends of memhersZi) and 22 and connected to a string 61 which extends from the mid-point: oftransverse frame stick: 24, the assembly beingknotted,

'as at 62', to provide. a convenient point for the attachment of, a kite string. A suitable tail of any, desired length or configuration may also be. provided.

From the foregoing, itwill now be seen that there is herein provided a simple improved kite construction which accomplishes. all the objects of this. invention,

and others, including. many advantages of' great practical ti ity, and. haying, abichsntertainmen andamus ment value.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and, not in.,a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

In a kite construction, atfi'a'me comprised of crossed frame sticks joined. together and. a. transverse frame stick crossing said crossedfiamesticks at 'a point remote from th i crossingmnd: joinedtheretmtall ofi saidgsticks having slots in their,respectiveeends thereqf, a reinforcing cord extending about tlie"end"slots' in the crossed frame sticks and connected by its ends to the transverse stick at points adjacent to the opposite ends of the transverse stick, a covering for said frame, said crossed frame sticks including, notch means at. points; spaced from: the both ends. or each: of: saith crossedi frame: sticks-;. and a: second reinforcing cord; extending. about: saith frame seating; in"

said notch means and in the end slots of theitransverse: framestick, said; covering having reverted; edgetportions engaging both. said reinforcing cords, whereby to: provide projections extending from the main of 824,616. Bergeront June 26; 1906 1,453,282? Sellew May- 1 19.23 1,912,808: wzatsont- June: 6, 19-33 

